Web guiding device



Feb. 15, 1938. w. c. NASH 2,108,232

WEB GUIDING DEVICE Feb. 15, 193s. l w. c. NASH 2,108,232

' WEB GUIDING DEVICE Filed May l, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED 1" STATES 2.10am WEB comme nevica William C. Nash, Neenah, Wil., fifth to Mary Jones and cnevall Nash,both of Neenah, William M. Nash, Chicago, lll.,

aligner o! onefifth t ,Marie Du- Wis., one-fifth to and one-fifth to Ray A. Nash. New vmichelle, N, Y. Application May 1, 1935, Serial No. 19,157

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in web guiding or aligning devices, and has more particular reference to means for maintaining the lateral edges of a continuously passing web of substantially flexible material in relatively constant vertical alignment.

More specifically the invention is directed to the provision of means of automatically maintaining the lateral edges of a continuously passlng web of paper, felt, cloth or similar flexible material in a constant, straight line during its feeding or passage from a roll or other source of supply.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide means which will effectively avoid objectionable creasing, folding or distortion of the traveling web due to lateral displacement of the web from a normal path; provide means which will effectively and completely readjust the traveling web and divert it beyond a predetermined point from such normal path, and to effect such readjustment of the web automatically and without interference to or impairment of the function or operation of the machine as a Whole and its associate parts.

' Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detail description and accompanying drawings wherein for purposes of exempliflcation a preferred embodiment thereof is shown.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my invention as used in conjunction with a roll from which a flexible web is continuously fed forwardly.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating my improved means for aligning said web.

Fig. 3 is a detailed elevational view of the feeler and switch mechanism associated with the web aligning device.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, elevational view of a guide roll which may be actuated by my improved device whereby the edges of a traveling web may be maintained in constant alignment.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 5. n

Fig. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the electrical connections pertinent to my web aligning device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, I indicates a standard'which is adapted to serve as a lsupporting medium for a bearing 2. A shaft 3 is adapted to be journalled at one of its ends in bearing 2 and the opposite end of said shaft is adapted to be journalled in a similar bearing supported upon a similar standard (not shown). The upper surface of standard I may be recessed in order to slidably receive bottom plate 4 of bearing 2. The plate 4 may be provided with opposite extensions or flanges 5 which are adapted to register with undercut portions of the side walls of the recesses in the standard I so that plate' 4 may be slidably positioned within said recess but would be prevented from moving vertically. A mandrel 8 may be mounted upon each end of shaft 3 between the supporting bearings, said mandrel being adapted to support a roll 1 of relatively flexible-web-like material from which a web 8 may be fed forwardly. The roll 1 may comprise, for example, a roll of paper and a web 8 may, for instance, be fed forwardly to a printing press, s'aturatlng tank, re-winder, or the like. A brake drum 9 may be mounted upon shaft 3 and may be circumscribed by an adjustable brake band Iii which may carry afriction brake lining II. In mechanisms of this character the braking device is utilized to prevent excess of freedom of rotation of roll 1. An arm I2 may be formed integral with plate 4 and may extend downwardly from said plate. A bracket I3 may be mounted upon one face of the standard I which is adapted to support a. screw I4 which may be rotatably positioned in said bracket. The arm I2 may be apertured intermediate its length, said aperture being internally threaded to register with the threads of screw I4. A hand-wheel I5 may be mounted upon the end of screw I4 whereby said screw may be manually rotated.

Assuming, for example, that the web 8 is to be fed forwardly to a mechanism (not shown) which latter is characterized in that it is essential that the lateral edges of said web during the feeding `operation be maintained in substantially constant alignment. It is further assumed that no particular care was taken in initially Winding said roll spas to maintain the lateral edges of the web in a xed plane. This is the usual procedure in initially winding, for instance, a paper web after the same comes from the dryers or calenders of a paper machine. Confronted with this problem, it has been the practice to maintain the lateral edges of the web 8 fed from the roll 1 in substantially constant alignment by manually manipulating hand-wheel I5 whereby screw I4 may be rotated in one direction or the other. It is obvious that when said screw is rotated, plate 4 will be shifted to the right or to the left as the occasion demands. Collars I6 may be mounted upon shaft 3 upon each side of bearing 2, said collars being .rigidly secured to said shaft by means of pins I1. Consequently, when plate 4 is moved to the right or left as viewed in Fig. 1, shaft 3 and hence mandrel 6 and roll 1 will be correspondingly moved to the right or left whereby the lateral edges of the web 8 may be maintained in constant alignment. This type of mechanism is conventional and forms no part of my present invention. My invention, however, contemplates automatic means for shift-y ing shaft 3 loigltudinally in order to maintainl the lateral edges of web 8 in a iixed constant path.

A supporting column I8 may be positioned adjacent standard I and may carry at its upperproject through a wall 25 of housing 28. Within housing 28, shaft 24 may carry a spur gear or pinion 28. Shafts 21 and 28 may be suitably journalled within housing 2li, the longitudinal axis of said shafts being parallel and spaced on each side of shaft 24. A spur gear or pinion 28 may be mounted upon' shaft 21 in such position thereon as to mesh with pinion 28. Similarly a spur gear 38 may be mounted upon'shaft 28 and may mesh with asdiametrically oppositeportlon of spur gear or pinion 25. As willbe hereinafter more fully described, motor 22 is adapted to be maintained in continuous operation while web 8 is being fed forwardly. Consequently, inasmuch as gears 29 and 30 are constantly in mesh with pinion 26, said gears are also continuously rotated. However, inasmuch as gears 29 and 30 mesh with pinion 26 upon opposite sides of said pinion, said gears are rotated in opposite vdirections relative to each other and inasmuch as gears 29 and 30 are rigidly mounted upon respectively shafts 21 and 28, said shafts are continuously rotated in opposite directions.

Opposite side walls 3| and 32 of housing 20 may carry bearings 33 and 34 in which a shaft 35 may be journalled. A plate 36 may be secured to the exterior surface of the side wall 32 by means of rivets 31 or the like, said plate carrying a projecting bearing portion 38. A sprocket wheel 39 may be mountedy upon the end of shaft 35 which latter projects through wall 32 and through the bearing portion 38.

A collar 40 may be mounted upon shaft 35 and may be freely rotatable thereon, said collar being spaced from bearing 33 by means of a thrust ball bearing 4|. A similar collar 42 may be freely rotatable upon shaft 35 and may be spaced from bearing 34 by'thrust ball bearing 43. Collar 40 may be rigidly secured to a worm wheel 44 and similarly collar 42 may be secured to worm wheel 45. A worm pinion 46 may be rigidly mounted upon shaft 28 above spur gear 30. In a similar manner a worm pinion 41 may be mounted upon shaft 21. The positions of worm pinions 48 and 41 upon shafts 28 and 21 respectively is such that said worm pinions respectively mesh with the threaded peripheries of worm wheels 44 and 45.

It can readily be seen that as shafts 21 and 29 are rotated, pinions 41 and 46 will be similarly rotated and inasmuch as said pinions mesh respectively with worm wheels 45 and 44, said worm wheels will also be rotated about shaft 35. However, since shafts 21 and 26 are rotating in opposite directions, worm wheels 45 and 44 will also rotate in opposite directions.

A solenoid 48 may be mounted upon one side of platform I9 and a similar solenoid 49 may be mounted upon the opposite side of said platform. Associated respectively with each solenoid 48 and 49 is a plunger or armature 59 and 5|. A lever 52 rigidly secured to shaft 53 which, in

lin opposite directions.

arcanes turn, is Journulled in wall 25 cf housing 26, may be pivotally connected at opposite ends to the upper portions of plunger 58l and 5|., A flangedl bracket or angle-iron 54 may be secured to the outer face of side 25, the flange of said member being apertured at opposite ends through which apertures rods 55 and 58 may extend. A nut 51 may be mounted upon the lower end of rod 55 and a coil spring 55 may be conned between said nut and the lower Vface of the flanged portion of bracket 54, similarly a nut 59 may confine coil spring 89, both of which are associated with rod 58. 'I'he upper end of rod 55 may be pivotally connected as at to an intermediate portion of lever 52 on one side of shaft 53. Similarly the upper end of rod 55 may be pivotally secured to lever 52 as at 82 upon the opposite side of shaft 53.

'I'he arrangement is such that when solenoid 48 is energized, the ux set up by said solenoid causes plunger 59 to move downwardly. This action of plunger 58 causes lever 52 to rotate ina clockwise direction thereby rotating shaft 53 and compressing spring 80. When solenoid 48 is de-energized, lever 52 moves to its normal or horizontal position under the influence of the compressed spring 68. In like manner if solenoid 49 is energized, plunger 5| will be drawn down- Wardly and the lever 52 will be rocked in a counter-clockwise direction thereby rotating shaft 53 in a counter-clockwise direction and compressing spring 58. When solenoid 49 is de-energized. spring 58 causes lever 52 to return to its normal horizontal position.

Shaft 53 projects through wall 25 into the interior of housing 26. A yoke 63 may be carried by shaft 53 within housing 20 and may be rigidly secured to said shaft, the opposite terminations of said yoke being positioned upon each side of shaft 35. Collar 64 may be slidably but non-rotatably keyed to shaft 35 whereby said collar has limited longitudinal movement upon said shaft. The outer surface of collar 83 may be provided with an annular groove or recess 65 into which the opposite ends of yoke 83 may be positioned.

A face of collar 40 may be provided with annularly disposed ratchet teeth 66. In like manner a face of collar 42 may be provided with ratchet teeth 51. Opposite faces of collar 64 may carry ratchet teeth- 68 and 69. The teeth 66 and 68 are inclined in the same direction. Similarly teeth 61 and 89 are inclined in the same direction. However, teeth 66 and 68 are inclined in a direction opposite to teeth 61 and 69.

Reverting to the operation of solenoids 48 and 49 in conjunction with their function of rocking lever 52 and hence shaft 53, it can readily be seen that when shaft 53 is rocked in one direction, teeth 69 carried by collar 84 engage with teeth 61 carried by collar 42, and when shaft 53 is rocked in the opposite direction, teeth 68 carried upon the opposite face of collar 64 engage with teeth 66 carried upon the face of collar 49. As has been hereinbefore described, collars 40 and 42 are continuously rotated inasmuch as worm Wheels 44 and 45 are respectively secured to said collars and, further, that said collars are rotated Consequently, it can readily be seen that when collar 64 is so moved as to cause the engagement of teeth 61 and 69, shaft 35 will be rotated in one direction. In like manner, when shaft 53 rocks in the opposite direction so as to engage teeth 68 and 68, shaft 35 will be rotated in the opposite direction. In view aioaasa of the'iact that collar 84 is moved longitudinally along shaft 38 in either direction and bears with force against either collar 48 or42,` excessive springs 58 or 88 is desirable that the pitch or the angular inclination of the ratchet teeth 88. 88, 81 and 89, that is, the angle A, be correlated with respect to the load upon said ratchet teeth. For instance, said angle may vary between 15 and 50, the heavier the load the greater the angle. If the angle A is not correlated with respect to the load diiiiculty may be experienced in causing the ratchet teeth to disengage under load conditions, since the normal pressure of said teeth with respect to each other, increases as the angle of inclination A of said teeth decreases.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, means is illustrated whereby solenoids 48 or 49 are energized when web 8 Said means comprises an electric switch 18 which may include an arm 1| pivoted at 12, said arm carrying a crossl member 13. vAn electric terminal 14 may be carried at the lower face of one end of the cross member 13 and a similar electric terminal 15 may be carried at the lower face of the opposite end of said member. A contact terminal 18 Lmay be positioned adjacent terminal 14 and in like manner a contact member 11 may be positioned adjacent terminal 15. In normal position contacts 14 and 15 are respectively spaced from contacts 18 and 11, and'arm 1| is positioned in substantially a vertical plane.

A palm or feeler 18 may be pivotally secured to the end shaft or rod 1I, said rod being bifurcated at its lower end and terminating in bearing portions 19 and 88. A anged plate 8| may be carried upon the inner face of the palm 18 and a rod 82 may be journalled in the anges of said plate. Rod 82 also passes through the apertured ends of the bifurcated member forming the lower extension of rod 1I.' A coil spring 83 may embrace pin 82, the ends of said spring being associated with palm 18 and rod 1|, as shown best at 84.

Switch 18 may be mountedadjacent the path of travel of` web 8 in such manner as to cause palm 18 to contact one lateral edge of said web, said palm being maintained in contact with the lateral edge of the web by means of counterweight 1| which maybe adjustably mounted upon rod 12 which, in turn, may he connected to rod or arm 1|. The normal path of travel of the edge of the web adjacent palm 18 may be so correlated with respect to rod 1| as to posi'- tion contacts 14 and 15 in spaced relationship with respect to contacts 18 and 11.

Referring particularly to Fig. 7, it will be seen that cross member 13 in normal position is spaced from contact terminals 16, and 11 when palm 18 is so positioned as to have its contact surface in coincidence with the normal path of travel of the web. A indicates schematically a source of electric current. One terminal of said source may be connected to the cross arm 13, or more strictly speaking, one source of electric current may be connected to both contacts 14 and 15 as illustrated in FigQ. The opposite terminal of said electric current source may be connected to one side of each of the solenoids 48 and 49. The terminal 18 may be connected to the opposite end of solenoid 48 and the terminal 11 may shifts -in a lateral direction.l

be connected to the opposite end of the remaining solenoid 49.

In operation, as web 8 passes forwardly 'and tends toshift in a lateral direction. for instance, to the right as viewed in Fig. 3, palm 18 and rod 1| will be rocked in a counter-clockwise ldirection about pivotv 12. This will complete an electric circuit through contacts 14 and 18, or referring to Fig. 7, an electric circuit will be completed from one terminal of the source A' through cross member 13, contact 18 and solenoid 48. In this manner, referring to Fig. 1, solenoid 48 will attract plunger 58 which will rock lever 82 in a clockwise direction. As viewed in Fig. 2, rod 58 will rock yoke 83 in a clockwise direction and, consequently, the ratchet teeth of collar 84 will make engagement with ratchet teeth 81 and shaft 35 will be rotated in a predetermined direction. The rotation of said shaft will, in turn, cause the rotation of sprocket wheel 38. A sprocket chain 85 operatively connects sprocket wheel 39 and a sprocket wheel (not shown) rigidly connected to screw i4. In this manner screw I4 will be left so as to return the lateral edge of the web 8 to normal position. When the edge of web 8 is returned to normal position, switch 18 returns to normal position and, consequently, the. circuit ofsolenoid 48 will be broken. Spring 88, being subjected to compression by the rocking of lever 52, will now urge said lever to normal position and, consequently, the slidable collar 84 will be returned to normal position and shaft 35 will be maintained stationary. If web 8 moves in the opposite direction, that is, to the left, weight 1| will cause palm 18 to follow the movement of the edge of said web thereby connecting terminals 15 and 11 together and completing an electric circuit through solenoid 49. When said. solenoid is energized a similar operation takes ,place wherein shaft 35 is rotated in the opposite direction and shaft 3 is so shifted as to move web 8 back to its normal position. In this manner a balance is obtained wherein lateral movement of web 8 toward either side of normal position will cause an operation which tends to shift the roll 1 to immediately return said web to its normal position.

It will be noted that palm 18 is so pivotally connected to rod 1I that itis free to move against the tension of spring 83 in a counter-clockwise direction about pin 82, as viewed in Fig. 3. By this provision, if an abnormal shift of web 8 to the right occurs, palm 18 or the associated switch mechanism will not be injured since the excess movement of the palm will betaken up by spring 83 after the upper portion 13' of rod 1| contacts screw 14 threadedly mounted in lug 15'. A similar screw 18 mounted in a similar lug 11 is positioned upon the opposite side of the upper end 13 of rod 1|. The arc of the swing of rod 1| is governed by the setting of screws 14' and 16. However, portion 13 does not contact either of said screws until terminals 15 and 11 or 14 and 18 are in contact. In this type of switch terminals 14 and 15 are reslliently mounted and sufficient give is obtained to permit the later contact of portion 13 and either of the screws 14' or 18. The strength of spring 83 is so correlated with weight 1|' that movement of rod 1| and hence weight 1|' takes place before spring 83 is flexed. Of course, weight 1| may be substituted by a spring (not shown) which may normally urge rod 1| and palm 18 toward web 8, or switch 18 may be so mounted as to cause rod 1| so rotated as to move shaft 8 to the and palm 18 to contact web 8 directly under the influence of gravity.

Referring particularly to Figs. and B, means for guiding a passing web 8l is illustrated, -which means may be controlled by a mechanism similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to maintain the lateral edges of said web traveling in constant alignment. 86 indicates a guide roll carried by shaft 81 which may be `ioumalled at one end in a bearing (not shown) which is free to swing or rotate horizontally. 'I'he opposite end of shaft 81 is Journalled in bearing 88 carried by and formed integral with casting 89. A guide rail 98 may be disposed upon the top. of frame 9| and casting 89 may be provided with a groove or recess 92 whereby said casting may be slidably movable upon the top of fraine 9| and may be guided by rail 98. A screw 93 may be journalled in the ends of frame 9| and may be threadedly associated with casting 89. which may be provided at its lower end with rollers 94 which may support said casting upon the surface 95 of frame 9|.

This construction is more or less conventional and is used to guide or control the lateral movement of a traveling web. In use the guide roll 86 is placed beneath the web 86 intermediate the path of travel of said web. To maintain the web traveling true, one end of roll 86', namely that end adjacent bearing 88, may be shifted longitudinally with respect to the web. Movement of the roll in this manner causes the web to creep to the right or left depending upon the direction of movement of the bearing 88 and, therefore, said web may be maintained in constant alignment by appropriately shifting said bearing.

In utilizing my invention in conjunction with an arrangement of this type, sprocket chain 85 may be adapted to drive sprocket wheel 96 mounted upon screw 93. A palm and switch similar to that shown in Fig. 3 may be associated with the web 86 and may actuate the solenoids 48 or 49 whereby chain 85 may drive sprocket wheel 96 to revolve screw 93 and move bearing 88 in the proper direction to cause the web to return to normal position.

Switch forms no part of my invention per se and may be similar in construction to that described in United States Patent No. 1,960,020. Consequently, a detailed description of said switch is deemed unnecessary.

Of course, the electric circuit shown in Fig. '7 is merely diagrammatic.Y and suggestive of a circuit which may be used.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for automatically maintaining the lateral edge of a continuously advancing flexible web in substantially constant alignment which comprises, means for shifting said web laterally. and means for actuating said web shifting means when said web moves laterally from its normal path, said actuating means comprising a pair of continuously oppositely rotating clutch members, a shaft upon which said members are freely rotatable, a cooperating clutch member slidably but non-rotatably mounted upon said shaft, means actuated by lateral displacement of the web from its normal path for engaging said cooperating clutch member and one of said continuously rotating clutch members to rotate said shaft in the direction of said last mentioned clutch member, said engaging means comprising a solenoid, an electric switch connected in the solenoid circuit; a feeler disposed adjacent the path of travel of the web and movable with transverse movement of the web to throw said switch and energize vsaid solenoid,'a plunger associated with said solenoid,'means'operatively connecting said plunger and cooperating clutch whereby said `cooperating clutch is moved into' engagement with one of said clutch members, and means operatively. connecting said shaft and said web shifting means.

2. A device for automatically maintaining the lateral edge of a continuously advancing flexible web in substantially constant alignment which comprises, means for shifting said web laterally, and means for actuating said web shifting means when said web moves laterally from its normal path, said actuating means comprising a pair of continuously oppositely rotatingclutch members, a shaft upon which said members are freely rotatable, a cooperating clutch member slidably but I non-rotatably mounted upon said shaft, means actuated by lateral displacement of the web from its normal path for engaging said cooperating clutch member and one of said continuously rotating clutch members to rotate said shaft in the direction of said last mentioned clutch member, said engaging means comprising a solenoid, an electric switch connected in the solenoid circuit, a feeler disposed adjacent the path of travel of the web and movable with transverse movement of the web to throw said switch and energize said solenoid, a plunger associated with said solenoid, means operatively connecting said plunger and cooperating clutch whereby said cooperating clutch is moved into engagement with one of said clutch members, means operatively connecting said shaft and said web shifting means, and means associated with said plunger for returning said plunger to normal position and disengaging said-cooperating 'clutch when said solenoid is de-energized.

3. A device for automatically maintaining the lateral edge of a continuously advancing flexible web in substantially constant alignment which comprises, means for shifting said web laterally, and means for actuating said web shifting means when said web moves laterally from its normal path, said actuating means comprising a pair of continuously oppositely rotating clutch members, a shaft upon which said members are freely rotatable, a cooperating clutch member slidably but non-rotatably mounted upon said shaft, means actuated by lateral displacement of the web from .its normal path for engaging said cooperating clutch member and one of said continuously ro` tating clutch members to rotate said shaft in the direction of said last mentioned clutch member, said engaging means comprising a solenoid, an electric switch connected in the solenoid circuit, a feeler disposed adjacent the path of travel of the web and movable with transverse movement of the web to throw said switch and energize said solenoid, said feeler carrying a resiliently movable palm in contact with lateral edge of said web, a plunger associated with said solenoid, means operatively connecting said plunger and cooperating clutch whereby said cooperating clutch is moved into engagement with one of said clutch members, means operatively connecting said shaft and said web shifting means, and means associated with said plunger for returning said plunger to normal position and disengaging said cooperating clutch when said solenoid is de-energized.

. WILLIAM C. NASH. 

